Projects / Culture     

Biblo Tøyen, Deichmanske Bibliotek

Is it a ski center? A scene from Disney's Finding Nemo? A small amusement park or maybe a car park? Biblo Tøyen is not easy to define, but one thing is for sure - it's tempting to stay awhile in this weird, soft, fun universe.

Architect: Aat Vos, M.Arch
Published 06 Jun, 2016
 
Biblo Tøyen has one of the country’s best libraries for children and young readers.

Biblo Tøyen has one of the country’s best libraries for children and young readers.

The library offers a “third space” to hang out.

Interior study. The different areas of the concept are taking shape.

Interior study. The different areas of the concept are taking shape.

Concept sketch.

The information poster that advertised the opening of Biblo Tøyen.

Happy library users.

Happy library users.

Happy library users.

Enjoying a read at mirror alley.

A relaxed reading cave has been created under the hood of an old Volvo truck.

Ski cabins facilitate work, meetings, homework and more.

Two orange Piaggios, bought at an old farm in France, house the maker space.

Suspended bookcases in front of the Jules Verne lounge.

The back of the old truck has been transformed into a proper kitchen.

Models showing the unfurnished library space.

Plan of the library. 1. Entrance, 2. Toilets, 3. Storage, closet, 4. Staff,5. Meeting/dressing room, 6. Stage, 7. Schoolbus with kitchen, 8. Piaggios with workshop, 9. Ferris wheel meeting carousel, 10. Ski lift cabins, 11. Wheel barrow chairs, 12. Lounge seating, 13. Display pallets, 14. Display oil drums, 15. Old door table with two PCs, 16. Loose seating parts, 17. Media racks on track, 18. Projector screen at ceiling, 19. Elevated floor, 20. Shoe moose, 21. Poetry writing chair, 22. Lego wall, 23. Locker with glass door, 24. Tweet Mirror passageway, 25. Oil drum mirror with lights, 26. “Periscope” view lounge, 27. Cocoons, 28. Reception desk, 29. Sound showers, 30. Pantry, 31. Ramp, 32. Amfi seat 300+, 33. Amfi seat 500+, 34. Wardrobe, 35. 1 black + 1 white curtain.

Completion: 2016

Address:
Hagegata 22, Tøyen Torg, Oslo

View it on the map

Photo:
Jan Willem van Bruggen, Marco Heyda

The new children’s library at Tøyen in Oslo, “Biblo Tøyen”, is only open to children and youngsters between the ages of 10 and 15 – unfortunately. The rest of us will miss out on this unique place, where you can meet, hang out, relax, surf, make stuff, read, cook, learn and, yes, borrow books – it houses the largest collection of young readers’ literature in the country, in ­move­able shelves. Helle Benedicte Berg talked to Dutch designer Aat Vos and project initiator Reinert Mithassel from Deichmanske Bibliotek. They wanted to make a “third space” in this inner city location, a safe and free place for youngsters to meet and hang out. The result is this cornucopia of possibilities, housed in a rich playground of re-used materials and repurposed objects.

Facts:

Text by Helle Benedicte Berg.